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L-R: Seashell Chair of Board of Directors, Chris Smale; The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir Warren Smith; Seashell Chief Executive and Principal, Jolanta McCall
On Wednesday 15 September 2021 Seashell celebrated the beginning of the construction of our new school with a steel beam signing event.
Guests of Honour, including The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir Warren Smith, were invited to Seashell’s site in Cheadle Hulme to sign a steel beam in the main construction compound. The beam will be installed as part of the fabric of Seashell’s new Royal School Manchester.
The event marks a key milestone in Project Transformation, which has been years in the planning and will take more than five years to complete.
The steel outline is approximately 400 tonnes, having been made in Preston. The majority of the steel was sourced from British Steel, however some sections were imported from Germany, France and Spain.
A total of 20,000 bolts will be used to join the structural steel together for the new Royal School Manchester building, which will hold 12 adjustable-in-size classrooms, sensory rooms, hydro pool, swimming pool and dining areas.
Contractors started work on the project in early 2021, which will see a new school, redeveloped college, a new site entrance and reception building, a new four-court sports hall, gym and pavilion, new training facilities, community engagement and administration facilities and a new assessment and early years centre.
Seashell Chief Executive and Principal, Jolanta McCall, described the day as “a fantastic milestone for Seashell.”
She said: “We were delighted to welcome guests to Seashell to mark the start of the School build and sign one of the structural steel beams. We are well into Project Transformation and we look forward to the future, where we will continue to innovate and deliver the very best for our students and residents.
Although the signatures will eventually be hidden, they symbolise the teamwork which has driven the development and the shared ambition for the best possible education, health and care for our present and future generations of students.”
The first phase of the construction project will see a new school developed which is expected to open in autumn 2022, and a new site entrance and reception building, again expected to open in autumn 2022.
Project Transformation is being delivered by construction experts Willmott Dixon. If you have any questions about the development please email: ProjectTransformation@seashelltrust.org.uk